Long before Pilgrims, celebrations gave thanks

5:52 PM,
Nov. 27, 2013

Jack Johnson, left, and Charles Robinson.

Written by

Charles Robinson

The true history of Thanksgiving is not found in the books most of us studied in school. In fact, the story of the picnic between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag came along as an afterthought, nearly 280 years after the event occurred. And even then, it was based on a historical reference barely mentioned in the writings of William Bradford's assistant (Edward Winslow), suggesting that it was not nearly as significant at the time as it is today. In fact, the first pictorial sketch that depicted the shared meal was not until 1897!

The idea of having a day of giving thanks was not new to the Pilgrims, ...